Kael found a letter and some property documents inside the file.
What the—another letter?
He opened the letter and began to read.
"Kael,
If you're reading this, you've made it to Blackwater Hollow. Good. That means you're not as stupid as your uncles.
This house is yours now. I didn't put it in the will on purpose—if I had, you'd have sold it through some slick city agent without ever stepping foot inside. That would've been a damn waste. Because what's here… well, let's just say it's worth more than the entire Lancaster fortune."
Kael's pulse kicked up. His throat went dry.
"There's a basement beneath the house. My... special collection. The code for the door is 7-3-9-1. Don't touch anything until you've read the rest of this."
Kael exhaled, the paper crinkling in his grip.
Special collection?
What the hell was the old man hiding?
He shoved the letter into his pocket and stood, his phone's flashlight casting harsh shadows across the rotting floorboards. The place was a disaster—peeling wallpaper, dust thick enough to choke on, and the sour stench of mildew clinging to the air like damp clothes.
Alone in the abandoned house, Kael couldn't shake the unease twisting in his gut. No nearby homes, no neighbors—if something happened to him here, no one would know.
What Kael was most afraid of here were poisonous insects. Especially snakes. The kind of creatures that thrived in forgotten places like this. That's why he moved slowly, carefully shifting debris with the tip of his shoe.
Damn! I would consider myself lucky if someone gave me a few thousand bucks for this dump. I don't even know how I'm gonna spend the night in here.
He glanced at his phone. Almost 7:00 p.m.
Although it wasn't that late, the atmosphere was so deserted that it felt like it was already midnight.
Tch! I should have researched this place better. Then I wouldn't have had to go through this kind of trouble. I hope the basement is full of gold. Hehehe.
Kael entered another room when a noise behind him made him freeze.
He spun, light jerking in the direction of the sound.
A rat.
He let out a breath, shaking his head, and resumed his search for the basement.
Then his flashlight hit something in the corner.
A steel door.
Not rusted. Heavy. Reinforced. The kind of door you'd expect in a bank vault.
Kael goes near it. He shines his cell phone light on it.
He ran his fingers over the keypad.
7-3-9-1.
He punched them in.
A sharp click.
The lock disengaged with a soft whir. Then a slow hiss. The door shifted open, revealing a dark stairwell descending into the ground.
No lights.
Kael hesitated, leaning forward.
Cold air wafted up the stairs, heavy with the scent of leather, dust... and something metallic. Like old blood.
He brought his phone light to the entrance.
Stone steps. Narrow. Steep.
Each one disappearing into darkness.
"Of course it had to be pitch black," Kael muttered.
He pulled the phone closer to his chest and started down, one cautious step at a time, the beam jittering with every movement.
The temperature dropped quickly as he descended.
The stairs went on for longer than he expected. At least two stories down. Eventually, the steps ended at a wide metal landing and a second, older door—this one already slightly ajar.
Kael gave it a nudge.
It creaked open.
And he froze.
"What the—."
The basement wasn't just a basement.
It was a goddamn museum.
Ancient statues stood in rows along the walls—figures with hollow eyes and twisted faces, their stone skin etched with bizarre, alien-looking symbols. Dusty glass cases lined the center of the room, displaying swords, rings, scrolls, and other artifacts that shimmered under the faint light from his phone. Bone pots sat on shelves, lids sealed with cracked wax.
Kael was amazed to see all this.
These all look like antiques! They must be worth at least a few million dollars—or they could be worth more. I could easily become a millionaire by selling them. I can't believe that old man left me so much wealth. Damn, maybe I shouldn't have badmouthed him so much.
Then he saw it.
At the far end of the room—standing alone against the stone wall—was a mirror.
It didn't look that valuable, but it was very strange to look at.
The frame was carved from black wood or stone—serpents biting their own tails, forming a continuous loop. The glass itself wasn't reflective. It was too dark. Too still. Like staring into an abyss.
Kael stood in front of this mirror.
He cleared his throat and took out the letter again.
"You'll see a lot of old things down there. Artifacts. Antiques. These are my life's collections. But the most special thing here is that mirror... it's different.
I found it in Egypt, buried in a tomb— thousands years old. The locals called it 'The Gate.' They were right. It's not just glass and wood, Kael. It's a door. A door to another world. The other world is the opposite of our world. It is inhabited by people of other species besides humans. On the table next to the mirror is a magic ring that will allow you to understand the language of other world.
I used it. Built my empire with what I took from the other side. Now it's yours. Do what you want with it. Just remember—it's your choice."
Kael's hands shook.
A door to another world?
Bullshit. Had to be.
He took a cautious step forward. He saw a ring in a wooden box on the table.
Kael slowly put the ring on his right finger.
『You have acquired the skill [ Universal Language].』
『You have acquired the skill [ Dimensional Exchange].』
A voice echoed in Karl's head.
"Who is this?!"
Kael looked around the room. He was surprised. But there was no one else here but him.
What the — is this really fantasy! Have I mastered the 'equal exchange' skill? It sounds like something out of a light novel or a game.
Then another voice
『You have acquired the skill [ Storage].』